Ollie’s all set to Man up

OLLIE LAWRENCE was last night thrust into the void left by Manu Tuilagi – and backed to offer England the midfield

“X- factor” they crave.

Ahead of the six- match autumn campaign, Eddie Jones is auditioning for a replacement for Tuilagi, out for six months with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Worcester star Lawrence is only 21 but Warriors boss Alan Solomons said: “Ollie has tremendous ability. His genetics are outstanding and give him a real point of difference.

“He is very strong physically and has got fantastic feet. He has that little bit of special X- factor.”

The centre has started only 10 Premiership games and Solomons acknowledges that, even without Tuilagi, England are not short of options.

Jones’ 26- man squad for this mini- camp includes midfield trio Fraser Dingwall, Joe Marchant and Tom de Glanville, the 20- year- old son of former Red Rose captain Phil.

Jonathan Joseph and Henry Slade, with 79 caps between them, are both unavailable this week but sure to feature in the upcoming campaign.

But Solomons said that 15- and- a- half- stone Lawrence “offers something a little bit different”.

A week today England name their team to open their campaign against the Barbarians, before their Six Nations finale in Italy the following week.

“The focus is to raise the standard as we continue our preparation for the Italy game,” said Jones, who has sprung a major shock by omitting in- form scrum- half Ben Spencer.